Styxx | Review

Monday, January 27, 2014

Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.

As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.

The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her.

But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.

Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it's your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?"

Everyone now knows Acheron's story, and from previous books we've caught a glimpse at Styxx's, but we finally get a chance to know the true man under the facade. The story starts back in the ancient days, back when Ash and Styxx were only two lost little boys trying to survive the horrors life tossed at them. And boy, does life make them it's b***h.

I kind of expected the book to be like Ash's, some from the past, skip a bit, jump to present and continue the story. But it pretty much starts from when they were young children and goes from there with the occasional skipping of time age he ages. As far as the grand scheme of the Dark Hunter plot goes, we only actually get a little bit at the end that takes place "in the present time." So that was a bit of a surprise. It worked in context of the storyline, but after the last few books, I was kind of hoping for more stuff that ties into all the larger plots that have been kind of collecting dust bunnies.

Despite the mostly in the past, nearly continuous timeline, a whole heck of a lot happens in this book and the story flies. Ash's book made me feel for him, but Styxx's book made me cry actual tears. All of the Dark Hunters/etc. have horrible pasts, but I've never thought any of them could have a worse history than Ash. I was so wrong. Ash, at least, had one person who loved him from a young age. One person who always looked after him. Styxx had no one. NO ONE. I litterally kept repeating the phrase "dear/oh god" while reading this book.

(On the plus side, this book proved that I was justified in my hatred of Ryssa from Ash's book.)

One of the greatest things about this work, in my eyes, is how the author uses her characters and point of views in her stories. It's hard to explain what I mean in only one sentence, so please bare with me as I try to explain my crazy thoughts. By the time Ash's book came out, I already loved him, and wanted to know how he got to where he was. All those little questions I had, demanded answers. Because Styxx is an important part of Ash's childhood, I already knew him. Or so we are supposed to think. But as I watched things unfold from Styxx's eyes, all I thought was that Ash was such a *bad word.* I still understand and love Ash, but this is one of those things that sticks with me after finishing the book. 'Walk a mile in someone else's shoes' type of thing.

If you haven't read the Dark Hunters series yet, and are a fan of paranormal romances, I highly recommend this series.

"People make their own reality goddess. We hate and we love for reasons that are known only to us." (Styxx)

"The most beautiful heart of all is the one that can still love even while it bleeds, and especially after it's been shattered into thousand pieces."

"Every man, woman, and child is capable of extreme anger and utter prejudice and cruelty when they feel justified in their hatred. Right or wrong. We are all capable of lashing out when we're in pain." (Savitar)

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